DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM
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DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
Regency TR-1 by I.D.E.A.
| Date of introduction: | Oct. 25, 1954 | Display technology: | |
| New price: | $49.95 | Display size: | |
| Size: | 5.0" x 3.0" x
1.3" 127 x 77 x 33 mm3 |
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| Weight: | 11.0 ounces, 314 grams | Serial No: | 126316 |
| Batteries: | Eveready 412 (22.5V) | Date of manufacture: | 1955 |
| AC-Adapter: | Origin of manufacture: | USA | |
| Precision: | Integrated circuits: | 4 Ge transistors | |
| Memories: | |||
| Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Joerg Woerner |
On May 10, 1954 Texas Instruments announced a
revolutionary new electronic product, the silicon transistor. Searching for a
killer application, TI developed together with Industrial Development Engineering Associates (I.D.E.A.) of Indianapolis, Indiana the first commercial available miniaturized
transistor radio marketed as the Regency
TR-1. Read the press
release, dated October 18, 1954.
The first commercial transistor radio hit the consumer market in
October 1954. The Regency TR-1 featured four germanium transistors operating on a
22.5-volt battery that provided over twenty hours of life (tube radios with batteries only lasted several hours at
best).
Inside the TR-1 you'll find not only the transistors manufactured by Texas Instruments,
the transformer is a Dallas made product, too.
Several colors were initially offered in the plastic case: black, ivory, mandarin red, cloud
gray, mahogany and olive green. Fashion iridescent colors were offered later and
rare clear plastic cases also were made.
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, December 5, 2001. No reprints without written permission.